Improvement in boiler-feeders



dubai Startet Locus room, or

FAIRFIELD, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 101,992, dated .April 19, 187

IMPROVEMENT IN IBOILER-I'EEDERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern 4- Be it known that I, Locus FooTE, ofFairfield, county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented a certainnew and improved Steam-boilerWater-Gauge;

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andcomplete description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification, in which drawings- Figure l is a topview of the gauge and float.

Figure 2 is a side view. v

Figure 3, a longitudinal vertical section of valves and the lever,whereby said valves are operated.

Figure 4, a side view ofthe lever.

Figure 5, a det-ached section to which reference will be made.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a water-gauge for steamboilers which isconstructed with a oat having a tubular arm extending from it, andconnected lto a shaft in communication with valves, so as to operatethem in supplying the boiler with water.

The tubular arm prevents also the collapsing of the float, by admittingsteam through the arm into said iioat,'so that the pressure will be thesame on all sides of the float.

I do not claim either of the parts described, separately considered, butwhat distinguishes my invention is the construction and arrangement ashereinafter claimed.

A represents a chamber.

Said chamber is divided into two compartments B C by a diaphragm, D,fig. 3, and are pnt into communication with each other by two ports,provided each with a valve, E F.

The valve E opens below the diaphragm, whereas the valve F opens above,as shown in the drawing.

Immediately below the diaphragm kand valves is a vibrating lever, G, aside view of which is shown in iig. 4, whereby the valves are operatedas will hereinafter be shown.

Said lever is` hung upon the shaft H, and thereby vibrated by means ofthe float Iattached to the extreme end of the shaft by the tubularcurved arm the compartment B, establishing -by this means a directcommunication between the pump and boiler.

The relative position of the float to the high waterline of the boileris such that when the boiler is full to said line of safety, the iloatwill be horizontal therewith the line :t :z: indicates said line.

In this position ofthe iloat, resting upon the water, the two valves E Fwill be closed as shown in fig. 3, thereby preventing any flow oi waterthrough the chamber into the boiler. Now, as the water may lower in theboiler, the oat will fall with it, and in so doing will cause the leverto vibrate, and thereby open the valves more or less, according to thefall of the float and consequent movement of the lever.

Fig. 5 shows the changed position of the lever and the valves open,allowing a free How of water into the boiler, which, as it risestherein, the oat ascends, closing the valves more and more until theboiler is full to the water-line, at which time the float is horizontaltherewith, and the valves thereby closed, and the inlowing water shutoff.

By this means an immediate and regular supply of water is admitted tothe boiler whenever it may fall below the water-line, so that at alltimes the water is kept at the proper height, and cannot rise above it,in'

consequence of the closing of the valve.

Floats used in connection with water-gauges are liable to collapse inconsequence of the pressure of steam upon their outside. To preventthis, some are supported within by braces of iron, or a frame-work which`greatly adds to their weight and consequent ineiciency, as the float,to be fully effective, should be as light as possible.

'llo prevent this collapsing tendency, I connect the -iloat to the shaftby a tubular arm which opens into y the float.

At the upper end a small hole, c, is bored into the arm for theadmission of steam, which flows therein and fills the float, therebyproducing an equal pressure upon the inside as upon the outside, henceno collapsing ot' the oat can' take place, and at the same time securingto it the quality of lightness, and therefore greater ecency.

O' latm.

